A study on changes of serum HDL-cholesterol level in various diseased states was performed. Diseased groups were nephrotic syndrome, liver cirrhosis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and chronic alcoholism. Following results were obtained. 1) Compared to normal control group, levels of HDL-cholesterol in nephrotic syndrome were lower but the difference was significant statistically. 2) In liver cirrhosis, the result showed much lower levels than normal control group with high significance. 3) In both hyper-and hypothyroidism group, the levels of HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower than normal control group. 4) In chronic alcoholism, the levels were significantly higher than normal control group. 5) Except for the group of chronic alcoholism, the levels of HDL- cholesterol were higher in female groups than male groups, but was of no significance statistically.
Alcoholism ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome

PURPOSE: Bone bruises of patients with acute traumatic knee injuries, that are not found on simple radiograph, can be found on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency and locations of bone bruises on MRI in acute traumatic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 and 19 MRls, in which acute traumatic ACL and PCL injury was pre sent and there was no abnormality in simple radiograph, were reviewed. MRI was taken within 51 days of injury. A bone bruise was determined as a geographic and nonlinear area of signal loss on T1 images and increased signal intensity on T2 images involving the subcortical bone. RESULTS: In 16 patients with bone bruises and acute ACL injury, bone bruises were found in the lateral compartment of the knee in 15 (93.8%) patients. The most common area was the lateral tibial plateau (11 cases, 68.8%) and the second was lateral femoral condyle (9 cases, 56.3%). In 5 patients with bone bruises and acute PCL injury, bone bruises were found in the lateral compartment of the knee in all 5 (100%) patients. The most common area was lateral tibial plateau (4 cases, 80%) and the second was lateral femoral condyle (2 cases, 40%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute traumatic ACL or PCL injuries the bone bruises are often found on the lateral compartment of the knee, especially lateral tibial plateau and lateral femoral condyle on MRI.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Contusions* ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament

Objective/BACKGROUND: Serum levels of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) may represent markers of disease severity in myasthenia gravis (MG). This study was performed to evaluate the correlations between disease severity and immunological parameters such as serum AChR-Ab, IL-2 and sIL-2R level and between each immunological parameters. METHODS: Serum levels of AChR-Ab, IL-2 and sIL-2R were measured in 30 MG patients and in 22 healthy controls. Results : Serum levels of AChR-Ab and sIL-2R were higher in MG than in healthy controls (p<0,01). The occurrence of IL-2 positive serum samples was 46.7% in MG but none in controls. There were no significant correlations between disease severity and immunological parameters and between each immunological parameters. Conclusions : Serum IL-2 and sIL-2R levels may not represent markers of disease severity in MG, In order to further document the correlation between each parameters, follow-up of individual patients with serial serum samplings may be necessary.
Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Myasthenia Gravis

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether the impacts of orthodontic treatment of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life and happiness are positive with middle and high school students. METHODS: Subjects were 157 orthodontic patients and 83 non-orthodontic in malocclusion patients. Questionnaires were collected with the self-administered method, and consisted of the general characteristics, self-esteem, social support appraisal scale(friends, family, teacher), Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) and oxford happiness questionnaire (OHQ). RESULTS: A physical factor was lower in the orthodontic treatment group (5.8±2.48) than in the non-orthodontic treatment group (7.7±2.10)(p<0.001), and OIDP was lower in the orthodontic treatment group (7.0±1.79) than in the non-orthodontic treatment group (7.8±1.80)(p=0.002). A feeling of happiness was higher in the orthodontic treatment group(4.6±0.81) than in the orthodontic treatment group (4.3±0.89) (p=0.009). As results of multiple regression analysis, OIDP was affected of orthodontic treatment(β=−0.0222, p=0.001) and OHP was affected of orthodontic treatment(β=0.087, p=0.030) and OIDP(β=0.116, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment of malocclusion may positively affects happiness in teenager. Support policy for orthodontic treatment of malocclusion is necessary for adolescents.
Adolescent ; Happiness* ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Methods ; Quality of Life

Animals ; Horns ; Myelin Sheath ; Neurons ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium ; Pronase ; Rats ; Sensation ; Sodium ; Thermolysin ; Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; Xanthomatosis

Patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma have been traditionally managed with mainly palliative therapy such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or biologic therapy, yet their overall survival is unsatisfactory. Several recent series have indicated a long-term survival benefit after complete resection, (termed "metastasectomy") of distant metastatic foci in patients with metastatic melanoma. Unlike other palliative modalities, surgery like metastasectomy can rapidly render a patient clinically disease-free with rather minimal morbidity, a short-term of hospitalization and a quick recovery time. This may prolong the survival and improve the quality of life of patients with stage IV melanoma if all the clinicoradiologically-evident tumors can be completely resected. We report herein on a case of performing metastasectomy in a patient who had malignant melanoma with soft tissue metastasis of the breast (T3a/bN0M1a), even though there was a regrettable result.
Biological Therapy ; Breast ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Metastasectomy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors related to upper extremities work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in cameramen. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was performed on 166 cameramen in a broadcasting station. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the general characteristics, the health behavior, work type and duration, physical burden, ergonomic posture, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Definition of musculoskeletal disorders was based on NIOSH criteria. RESULTS: The positive rate of WRMSDs symptoms by parts of the body was turned out to be the highest in the shoulder (14.5%) and the lowest in arm and elbow (6%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that symptoms in the shoulders increased with BMI (OR = 3.62, 95% CI = 1.03-12.71), physical burden (OR = 9.29, 95% CI = 1.72-61.78 in the very hard group) and ergonomic factors (OR = 4.50, 95% CI = 1.03-19.68). Ergonomic factors were only related to the symptoms of hand and wrist (OR = 10.21, 95% CI = 1.02-102.20). WRMSDs symptoms, in the whole upper extremities, were higher in the 50 or older age group (OR = 5.86, 95% CI = 1.03-33.26), higher BMI group (OR = 3.26, 95% CI = 1.28-13.53), non-exercise group (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.24-12.59), high physical burden group (OR = 7.6, 95% CI = 1.34-52.74), and high grade ergonomic risk group (OR = 4.82, 95% CI = 1.29-16.06). CONCLUSION: The most serious musculoskeletal disorders of male cameramen were shoulder pain. Ergonomic factors and physical burden were the most significant factors affecting WRMSDs in cameramen in this study. Cameramen should be educated to be able to improve the ergonomic occupational environment and to set up preventive measures against the risk factors during work.
Arm ; Elbow ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Human Engineering ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Diseases ; Posture ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is chronic seronegative inflammatory arthritis that causes irreversible joint damage. Early recognition of PsA in patients with psoriasis is important for preventing physical disability and deformity. However, diagnosing PsA in a busy dermatology outpatient clinic can be difficult. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation (PASE) questionnaire for the detection of PsA in Korean patients with psoriasis. METHODS: The PASE questionnaire was prospectively given to 148 patients diagnosed with psoriasis but without a previous diagnosis of PsA. All patients underwent radiologic and laboratory examinations, and a subsequent clinical evaluation by a rheumatologist. RESULTS: Eighteen psoriasis patients (12.2%) were diagnosed with PsA according to the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis. The PASE questionnaire scores of differed significantly between PsA and non-PsA patients. Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.72, 0.92) for PASE score. A PASE score cut-off of 37 points had a sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 82.3% for the diagnosis of PsA. CONCLUSION: The PASE questionnaire is a simple and convenient screening tool for detecting PsA in Korean dermatology clinics. A PASE questionnaire score of 37 points appears to be an appropriate cut-off for screening Korean psoriasis patients.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Psoriatic* ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Mass Screening* ; Psoriasis* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Dermatofibroma is a fibrohistiocytic tumor of the skin that commonly occurs as a solitary lesion on the lower extremities of young women. Multiple eruptive dermatofibromas (MEDFs), defined as the presence of 5 to 8 dermatofibromas appearing within a period of 4 months, are rare, and the etiology of MEDFs remains unknown. However, MEDFs are frequently thought to be associated with altered immunity, such as autoimmune diseases and immunosuppression. It is unclear why MEDFs occur in association with these conditions, but this relationship may suggest that MEDFs are the result of an abortive immunoreactive process. We herein describe a middle-aged woman who developed multiple dermatofibroma. She had myasthenia gravis for 8 years, and developed MEDFs after undergoing oral corticosteroid treatment (245 mg/week) for 3 months. Therefore, our case suggests that the use of immunosuppressants is a more dominant factor for the development of MEDFs than underlying autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Lower Extremity ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Skin